As educators, we constantly seek ways to increase student engagement, encourage meaningful discussion, and enhance academic language development. One powerful strategy that accomplishes all three is Think-Pair-Share, especially when combined with sentence frames. This simple yet effective approach not only supports students in oral language development but also serves as a scaffold for stronger writing skills.

What is Think-Pair-Share?

Think-Pair-Share (TPS) is a collaborative learning strategy where students first think about a question or prompt independently, then discuss their ideas with a partner, and finally share their thoughts with the class. This structured discussion technique allows students to process their thinking, build confidence in expressing their ideas, and refine their language before speaking to a larger audience.

The Power of Sentence Frames in Think-Pair-Share

While TPS naturally fosters communication, integrating sentence frames elevates its effectiveness. S...